Venezuela is one of only eight countries – including, most recently, Bolivia and Ecuador in 2007 – that have convened the historic democratic process to reform their constitutions. The South American nation hopes the exercise will clear the path for a lasting social peace and an end to the foreign-backed chaos that has paralyzed many of the country’s institutions.

Bolivian President Evo Morales expressed his continued support for Venezuela in a pair of tweets early Sunday morning, noting that aggression against Venezuela’s democracy constitutes an aggression on the whole of Latin America adding, “The Constituent Assembly will triumph.” The Bolivian socialist leader also noted, “those who organize and finance violence that attacks Venezuela and burns anti-imperialist Chavistas alive must be tried in the ICC (International Criminal Court).”

Throughout the country, voters have expressed their surprise with the efficiency of the voting.

According to the most recent report from the National Electoral Council of Venezuela, nearly 100 of the polling stations across the country are up and running as hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans line up to cast their ballots for the National Constituent Assembly.

The minister also denounced opposition street actions that set people on fire, attack medical and educational centers and attempt to destroy cities.

The Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez stated in a press conference Wednesday that the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela strongly rejects the interference of western powers in the internal affairs of the country.

“The FANB categorically rejects the alliance of governments operating against the nation and repudiates as firmly as possible the statements of (U.S. President Donald) Trump who, in an affront to Venezuela has dared to threaten the Venezuelan people with imposing economic sanctions on the government if it goes ahead with its Constituent Assembly. It is a shameless and vile statement that represents clear meddling in the internal affairs of the country.”

The minister also denounced the opposition that calls its supporters into the streets, leading to violence that “sets people on fire, attacks medical and educational centers, and attempts to destroy cities.”

Stating the firm anti-imperialist character of the armed forces, Padrino called on the military to close ranks against these interventionists attacks.

The military official also described how forces will be deployed starting Friday to distribute electoral equipment to the over 14,000 polling centers in the country ahead of the CNA vote on July 30.

Vice President Tareck El Aissami also denounced Trump’s interventionist plans, stating that the civic-military alliance will be activated on July 21 to ensure the safe and free participation of the Venezuelan people during the vote.

The statement came after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro led a session of the National Defense Council Tuesday night at the Miraflores Presidential Palace aimed at developing strategies to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty after Trump promised “swift and strong actions” if Venezuela decided to proceed with elections for the National Constituent Assembly.

Maduro criticized Trump’s threats as “vulgar,” arguing “the process of the constituent assembly is already in the hands of the people who will exercise their right to vote.”

“This is my response, the constituent assembly does not belong to me. On July 16 the people said this constituent assembly belongs to me,” added Maduro, referring to the historic dry run vote where million

Maduro’s call for the National Defense Council after the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry in a statement rejected the U.S. government’s “unbelievable” comments on Venezuela that “shows its absolute bias towards the violent and extremist sectors of Venezuelan politics, which favor the use of terrorism to overthrow a popular and democratic government.”

The ministry was referring to a statement issued Monday by President Donald Trump, who said, “If the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the United States will take strong and swift economic actions.”

Trump’s threats were repeated by the U.S. State Department which released a statement calling on “the Government of Venezuela to abandon the proposed National Constituent Assembly. ”

“The thin democratic veil of the Venezuelan opposition has fallen, and it reveals the brutal interventionist force of the U.S. government, which has been behind the violence suffered by the Venezuelan people in the last four months. It is not the first time that we denounce and confront threats as ludicrous as those contained in this unbelievable document,” the statement added.

The document called on the people of the world to defend sovereignty, self-determination and independence.

“The National Constituent Assembly will be elected by the direct, universal, and secret ballot of all Venezuelans, under the authority of the National Electoral Council, as contemplated in our legal framework. It is an act of political sovereignty of the Republic, nothing and no one can stop it. The Constituent Assembly will go on!” the statement concluded.

The threats come after record high numbers turned out to participate in the historic dry run vote for the ANC, which is aimed at easing tensions and creating a more representative constitution. Despite the mass show of public support, the event was largely ignored, as international leaders continued to criticize the Venezuelan government and demand immediate elections.

The document was signed by the Minister of Popular Power for Petroleum, Nelson Martinez, and the chairman of Oklahoma-based Horizontal Well Drillers, Todd Swanson, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas.

The agreement proposes a joint venture for the development of oil in Venezuela. Martinez announced that the deal will include an initial investment of US$200 million for a three-year project, which will eventually be expanded to US$1.3 billion.

“We discussed the creation of two work teams to initiate in the next 90 days a joint plan identifying opportunities, defining levels of investment and creating at least one joint venture in that time,” Martinez said.

He added that Venezuela is a country whose Constitution and laws create conditions of security and legal stability for these agreements, citing deals signed with China, India, Russia and other nations as examples.

“I invite all U.S. capital in all areas of economy and energy to come to Venezuela. We are ready to broaden the horizons of all investments,” Maduro said.

Maduro also reiterated his willingness to establish respectful relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite political and ideological differences.

“I hope the gates will open for a relationship of respect and height between the United States and the Venezuelan government.”

Former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez is among the candidates for the National Constituent Assembly that will draft a new constitution.

Several key figures of the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be candidates for the country’s National Constituent Assembly, called by the president to tackle the economic and political situation in the country.

Delcy Rodriguez, who was the foreign minister since December 2014, resigned Wednesday to be able to participate as a candidate for the Constituent Assembly.

“She has defended Venezuela’s peace, sovereignty and independence like a tiger,” Maduro said about Rodriguez.

Samuel Moncada, the current ambassador to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States and head of the Presidential Commission to the Non-Aligned Movement, will be the new foreign minister.

During the three-day annual meeting which wrapped up Wednesday, sharp exchanges arose between several foreign ministers.

When Peru’s representative demanded that Venezuela drop its projected Constituent Assembly, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez replied, “If (the countries condemning Venezuela’s crisis) are part of the litter of lap dogs that is friendly with the empire (the United States), Venezuela is not,” adding, “Venezuela will not accept this unjust interference that violates international norms.”

Mexican Foreign Minister and OAS Secretary General promise to keep up the pressure despite failure in Cancun.

After the latest attempt to intervene in Venezuela’s internal affairs failed at the Organization of the American States, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said he will continue to oppose Caracas.

Speaking at a news conference ending the 47th General Assembly of the OAS in Cancun, Videgaray said his nation will maintain its stance against the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“Mexico’s position will not change,” said Videgaray, after the organization failed to reach a consensus put forward by 14 states to condemn Caracas and prevent the National Constituent Assembly from rewriting the Venezuelan Constitution.

(P L) The new policy on Cuba announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, takes us back to the forgotten rhetoric ”Cold War” style, denounced today the Russian foreign ministry in an official communique.

This approach has characterized U.S. attitude to Cuba for decades, recalls the refered Independence.

When the Barack Obama administration made modifications to the policy being applied to the island, we considered that more than a demonstration of good will of some, it was a reflection of the failure of the policy of imposition and sanctions against this small liberty-loving country, it stresses.

The Foreign Ministry considered it was not a kind of ‘deal’, but a well-thought political decision that had no losers, except for the marginal anti-Castros, it highlights.